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Sixteen year old Thai guitarist Nene Royal is taking her remarkable journey from local night markets to an international metal stage after winning the 21st season of America's Got Talent.
The young musician is set to open for American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold during their concert in Singapore on October 13. The announcement was made by the concert promoter and Nene on social media, describing her as a special guest for the highly anticipated performance.
The opportunity follows an extraordinary rise for the teenager, who became an international sensation after performing The Cranberries' "Zombie" during her America's Got Talent audition.
Nene's performance immediately captured the attention of the show's judges and viewers. Her powerful vocals, energetic headbanging and extended guitar solos transformed what could have been a conventional audition into a full scale rock performance.
The audition video has since attracted more than 165 million views on TikTok, giving the young musician an enormous international audience.
Her journey through the competition continued to gather momentum. Judge Mel B awarded Nene a Golden Buzzer, sending her directly to the live shows.
During the competition, she performed alongside Mexican sibling rock group The Warning. For the finale, she shared the stage with American rock band Linkin Park and delivered a performance of The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army."
Her victory came when host Terry Crews announced her as the winner over magician Geno Ploeger. Nene fell to the floor in tears as gold confetti filled the stage.
"I'm very happy and emotional," she said while thanking the people who supported her.
Her success has generated significant excitement in Thailand, where the teenager has become a source of national pride. Nene comes from Phuket and began teaching herself to play guitar at the age of seven.
Before her television breakthrough, she performed for audiences at Phuket's Naka Weekend Market, far removed from the international stages she now occupies.
The support from her home country has been substantial. Thai rock musician Aed Carabao pledged one million baht to help cover travel expenses for Nene and her family during her America's Got Talent journey.
A billboard featuring Nene was also displayed in New York City's Times Square, carrying messages from Thai supporters. Thai conglomerate CP Group additionally gifted her a luxury condominium in Bangkok.
The Thai government praised her victory, describing her as an inspiration to young people and highlighting the significance of her carrying her Thai identity onto an international stage.
Now, Nene is preparing for another major milestone as she joins Avenged Sevenfold in Singapore. The band has previously been cited by the young musician as one of her inspirations.
Speaking about her future, Nene said she hopes to create and release original music, tour internationally and eventually perform alongside artists who inspired her.
Her journey from a Phuket night market to one of the world's biggest talent competitions has already given her an international platform. The Singapore concert could mark another significant step in her rapidly developing music career.
